1St Central Rip Off?

[djtdjt]

I want to cancel my car insurance with 1st central, they want to charge me £98! this seems excessive to me, I hung up and now they will not reply to my letters requesting more information, I also require my proof of NCD from them. Can I report them to anyone? what can I do next? I have no desire at all to argue with them of the phone!

[fiction-factory]

Seems a lot- what do the Tc and Cs say about cancellation. Normally it's around £30 max I thought for the admin fee. Were you on instalments? Anyway it's a one year contract so maybe they don't want people just taking it out short term. Have they explained how the £98 is made up?

[Buenchico]

The cancellation fee should be £50 (because that's what it says in the T&Cs that you signed up to):
https://cms.1stcentralinsurance.com/KenticoCMS7Slave/kenticocmsslave/media/firstcentral/documents/policy-wording/MotorInsurancePolicyWording-2015-12-01-PD-4_1v1_9.pdf
Are you sure that the extra £48 doesn't relate to a final monthly payment?

[fiction-factory]

Yes, they may deal in full months

[djtdjt]

Thanks Buenchico, I will try and argue my case that it should not cost £98 to cancel, this amount is almost half as much of new policy with new company!

[fiction-factory]

God luck. I think £98 may be made up of 2 parts. The reason for cancellation may be a factor- they may not want people changing their mind part way through and may charge for full months.

[bhg481]

Looking at the link that Buenchico provided there is also a non-refundavle setting-up fee; does that mean you should have to pay them £100 in total?
People jump in to pay the lowest premium for a policy without looking at the full terms and conditions and then complain that an unfair charge has been made. If you get a very cheap quote there's probably a good reason for it.

[twix123]

An excerpt from the Terms of Business document that I wrote some years ago for a firm of insurance brokers....

"Cancellation
Policies vary between insurers but be aware that cancellation refunds are not normally given after a claim and are otherwise calculated on a short period scale weighted in favour of the insurers, as their costs are similar whether a policy has run for one day or a year."

As you wish to cancel your contract mid-term, you are probably being charged both a cancellation fee and an adjustment for the short term insurance rate.

I would recommend that you write to the insurance company requesting a written breakdown of the fees being charged, then follow their published complaints procedure to try to get a refund.

[fiction-factory]

Is the cancellation following an accident/claim, djtdjt or is it due to sale of vehicle?

[hc4361]

How far in to the year contract are you?